Marcel Audrey the Greatest Equalizer

Chapter 7: The Undisputed Heir

Marcel's eyes narrowed while his face appeared perplexed. He just couldn't get what his grandfather was saying. 'What empire? Who? Him' he thought to himself. It has been really difficult for him to stomach all this. Ranging from the truth about his parents, his true identity and right now some heir to some kind of empire.

"Which empire are we talking about sir?" He asked prudently. He may be poor but still he is very privileged to be in a business course hence he has rooted knowledge in things pertaining to the business world and surely no business empire has he crossed with the name Audrey on it.

Sir Audrey smiled, he really understood how his grandson was feeling, he could tell from the darkening of his blue eyes that he is frustrated and confused, a feature peculiar to most Audrey in which he too is included.

"You see, all this didn't come from nowhere. Our family is the owner of most top companies in the world that you must have heard about. These companies may not bear our name but we own these companies. Before now all these companies used to bear our name but in a bid to make each company autonomous and independent from each other my late father accorded each company with a specific name hence the activity of one is entirely different from the other unless in certain emergency conditions"

He stood up and went to his desk where picked a black coloured thick catalog and then handed it to Marcel. Those were companies owned and managed by the Audrey family though some Were co-owned while others were partnership enterprises.

Marcel jaw dropped on seeing top companies worth billions and trillions on the catalog. Among these was Rodkley Tele Company, the highly revered company usually used as a yardstick to lecture and educate students on things pertaining to business. Lower down the catalog was Alaska Runies, the company that heads and manages the branch in which he works for. If all these are really true that means he has power to sack his beautiful boss, Miss Evelyn

Miss Evelyn has never been one to shy away from humiliating and embarrassing his staff and most especially Marcel. She took pleasure in demeaning him, she also pays him his salaries at will just whenever she deems it fit. She was a tyrant that never smiled at anyone under him. He abuses his position as the branch manager of this company. Marcel grinned, though he is still yet to ascertain his position in all this but he was sure of one thing now, he can destroy Evelyn's career and life with just a single phone call.

His grandfather clears his throat and then shakes his glass cup as he tries to mix the ice with the creamy Italian wine. He could read Marcel's body reactions, he knew about Marcel's awful plight with the Gilmores and likewise the Maryland university as a whole. He was thankful to them for making it possible to find Marcel.They were able to find Marcel because of the live feed of him being subjected to inhuman treatment. This video went viral going beyond the shores of the various universities. There are currently tens of Marcel memes in the internet world. He understood how he felt, hence he will be ready to help him get back to his feet.

"I think there are more than a hundred companies and businesses in which we are involved. Everything is now under your name , hence you're the unquestionable head of Audrey business empire" He said with some sense of intimacy and seriousness

Marcel couldn't help but laugh. To him all these were jokes. How can a sane being hand over business worth a fortune to a boy that is barely twenty two besides if everything is being accorded to him what then will his grandfather be doing.

Marcel's reaction to this was uncensored and natural but Terry understood therefore he never took offense on such an impudent reaction to a delicate matter.

"Forgive me sir but what about you? Why leave such an enormous thing for me?" Marcel asked innocently. Everyone in his shoes will be carried away by this news but Marcel wasn't just any boy, as much as wealth matters he understands that wealth does not come first in very few things and one of those is this.

"That's a subtle and insightful question, I must commend you for that. I'm a shadow of my former self, my days are numbered. I was diagnosed with an unidentified ailment six years ago. My health has been deteriorating and death is knocking on my door. Please save your strength and time, don't border on convincing me or trying to save me, that's the least you can do for me" He said nonchalantly while Marcel was stunned like one that suffered a bite from a bee. He felt devastated by such news, it was really a sad fate for an altruistic man. He may have met him today but he felt a sense of loss.

"Don't feel sad son, everyone of us has a role to play and this is mine besides I'm still here for you" He said kindly on sensing Marcel's gloomy and sad mood

Marcel has to accept that he has no other choice. For now he has nothing to worry since his grandfather will be here to assist him at least until the inevitable comes.

"You are now an Audrey therefore all your malnourished, wretched and horrible life is now behind you. Everything about you is about to change. After this you will be handed a phone, cars of your choice, new clothes befitting an Audrey but before that I have a gift for you " he said as he pressed a button on the table.

In a blink of an eye what appeared like a table turned into a safe, something that surprised Marcel as he watched the beauty and sophistication of technology.

On an ancient gold looking safe was a card. This Card exudes a unique grandeur, a special feeling, that feeling of majesty and importance that naturally elicit respect and reverence from anyone that beholds it.